College is backing green businesses

Green credentials are fast becoming the hallmark of good business management. It is a skill which will be recognised in the first Bury Free Press Business Awards.

Eleven awards will be presented at The Apex, in Bury St Edmunds, on September 21.

West Suffolk College is sponsoring the Green/Environment Award and bosses are looking for a wide range of nominations from large employers to small businesses.

They have a range of criteria to judge the award including the concrete changes a company has made in areas such as energy use, transport and waste disposal.

“We want to see evidence that the company’ s leadership embraces green practices and how the business has introduced and nurtured a culture of sustainable practices,” said college vice- principal Martyn Wagner.

How the greener practices impact on the wider community will also be considered.

The college has demonstrated a strong commitment to green issues as part of its redevelopment of the Out Risbygate site but also within the newly launched Milburn Energy Centre, which focuses on courses that promote sustainable practices.

Other award categories include People Development, to be given to the company that demonstrates a real commitment to the training and development of its staff. Judges will look for training policies and initiatives as well as recruitment procedures.

The Business Innovation accolade celebrates the new ideas, processes, products, services, technologies and applications that have the greatest impact on business’s success. Evidence will be required of how innovation has been developed and applied to improve its commercial performance, operational effectiveness or increased customer engagement.

The Contribution to the Community award will be presented to the company or business that has made a significant contribution to the community in which it operates and demonstrates a real commitment to corporate social responsibility.

The award for International Trade is for companies that are successful in exporting and commited to continued growth in their international business. Entrants will show expertise in planning and managing an export strategy such as managing currency fluctuations, credit control and international marketing.